Planer arrangement for extraction of mineral



A. LOBBE 3,235,662

PLANER ARRANGEMENT FOR EXTRA cTIoN 0F MINERAL Nov. 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1963 IN VE N TOR EMQ, w "0 0 N; 0 W M A. LOBBE 3,

PLANER ARRANGEMENT FOR EXTRACTION 0F MINERAL Nov. 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D60. 13, 1963 INVENTOP E 0 M/ flVORNE/S United States Patent 3,285,662 PLANER ARRANGEMENT FOR EXTRACTION OF MINERAL Armin Ltibbe, Oberaden Post Kamen, Germany, assignor to Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westphalia, Wethmar near Lunen, Westphalia, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Dec. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 330,505 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 14, 1962.,

36 28 21 Claims. ((31. 299-44 The present invention relates to a planer guide arrangement adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding planer means longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, and more particularly to such an arrangement in which provision is made for accommodating an elongated support means of the arrangement, two planers operating at different heights independently of one another for simult-aneous extraction of mineral from correspondingly different heights of the mine face.

Arrangements including apparatus for the underground mining of minerals such as coal are known, such as those in which at least one planer means and/ or one extracting machine is guided along an endless conveyor device, prefenably a double chain scraper conveyor, by means of an endless flexible pulling means, for example a traction cable, the forward or driving strand or section of which is disposed at the side of the conveyor adjacent the mine face. In such prior art apparatus, the endless chain or traction cable passes from the mine face side of the conveyor to the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face over the transverse blade of a planer, with the forward strand or section on the mine face side being connected with the return strand or section on the remote side of the conveyor at the ends of the conveyor by means of horizontally operating sprocket wheel arrangements. The usual planer arrangement of the foregoing type includes a blade, plate, or keel portion which underlies the conveyor for stability, although generally the driving strand of the traction cable is connected to the planer on the mine face side of the conveyor.

Nevertheless, the use of a planer having a transverse blade, plate, or keel portion is limited usually to certain types of planer arrangements for the extraction of mineral. Thus, in prior art systems using a plurality of planer means, only one single pulling means or traction cable is used as a rule so each planer means can use only a portion of the total driving power available to the endless traction cable. Inasmuch as the planer means are attached at spaced intervals along the traction cable, the driving mechanism necessarily is only able to effect the movement of the separate planer means always in the same direction along the length of mine face being worked.

All of these know arrangements have the common disadvantage that the traction cable for the planer means, which cable operates under considerable stress, is maintained unilaterally on the conveyor in most cases. Thus, the driving force on the cable and the counter force made by the planer means in engagement with the mine face result in a torque being exerted on the conveyor in such a manner that the latter tends to bend sidewise. This bending results in relatively heavy wear at those places where the conveyor sections are in contact with the working face or mine face.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and to provide a planer guide arrangement adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding planer means longitudinally back and forth along the mine face for extraction of mineral therefrom, with the 3,285,662 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 return strand or section of the endless traction cable means being transposed from the mine face side of the conveyor to the remote side thereof at points spaced from the sprocket wheels upon which the ends of the cable are mounted for travel.

It is another object of the invention to provide an arrangement of the foregoing type in which the return strand or section is suitably guided at points spaced from the driving means sprocket wheels to pass unhindered from the mine face side of the conveyor to the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement of the foregoing type which Will accommodate more than one planer means for independent travel of such planer means back and forth along the mine face at different heights and at different speeds and directions for the versatile extraction of mineral at different heights and at different longitudinal ranges of the mine face being worked.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such an arrangement in which more than one planer may be guided along the conveyor, with each planer having separate driving means and traction cable means for conducting the corresponding planer back and forth along the mine face in an independent manner, and with the individual traction cable means being unhindered in their operational travel.

It is another object of the invention to provide an arrangement of the foregoing type in which one planer is guided along the side of a mining conveyor adjacent the mine face while the other planer is mounted on top of the conveyor for travel along the mine face independently of the first planer.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an arrangement of the foregoing type in which the conveyor is subjected more uniformly to the stresses and forces exerted thereupon during the mining operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from-a study of the within specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a portion of a planer guide arrangement in accordance with the invention illustrating the driving means for the planer and for the conveyor apparatus at one end of the mine face being worked;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the raised position of the mining conveyor with respect to the mine floor for accommodating the cross-over portion of the endless traction cable extending from the mine face side of the conveyor to the side thereof remote from the mine face;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1, showing further constructional details of the raised conveyor including the return section channel for accommodating the return strand or section of the traction cable at the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the conveyor of FIG. 1 taken at a point therealong after completion of the cross-over of the return strand or cable, and indicating constructional details of the return section channel as well as the normal position of the conveyor resting on the mine floor;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a planer guide arrangement in accordance with the invention, illustrating one end portion of the arrangement in the same manner as in FIG. 1, but with provision for additional driving means for the conveyor apparatus and for the two pl aners mounted for travel along such conveyor;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a portion of the conveyor arrangement of FIG. 5, but showing an alternate form for the second planer mounted for travel along the top of the conveyor;

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the planer arrangement of FIG. showing therein another embodiment for the second planer mounted for travel along the top of the conveyor, this top travelling planer being the same as that illustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the planer arrangement of FIG. 5, illustrating a further type of top travelling planer arrangement.

It has been found in accordance with the present invention that a planer guide arrangement may be provided which will accomplish the foregoing objects in a versatile manner and without the need for expensive auxiliary equipment with respect to the mining conveyor or other similar guide means used for mounting the planer means in question. Specifically, the invention contemplates a planer guide adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding planer means longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, which comprises elongated support means adapted to extend longitudinally along the mine face, first traction cable guide means extending along one longitudinal side of the support means for guidingly retaining the forward strand or section of an endless traction cable used to conduct the planer means along the mine face; second traction cable guide means extending along the other longitudinal side of the support means for guidingly retaining the return strand or section of the endless traction cable, and directing means for directing at one end of the path of the cable the return cable strand or section across such support means from the one longitudinal side thereof to the other longitudinal side thereof, and in, turn for directing at the other end of the path of the cable the return cable strand or section back across the support means from said other longitudinal side of the support means to said one longitudinal side. thereof.

The foregoing construction will avoid specifically the torsional stress exerted on the conveyor as occurred in the past where conventional mounting of the forward and return sections of the traction cable was employed. Advantageously, the crossing over of the return section to the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face takes place after the forward cable section has engaged the appropriate sprocket wheel at the end of the conveyor, whereupon the same becomes the return section of the cable, so that the forward section which drives the planer means will be maintained in the usual efficient position, yet the return section will be conducted in the reverse direction toward the sprocket wheel at the opposite end of the conveyor along the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face for simultaneous even distribution of the stress exerted on the conveyor.

It will be realized in this connection that the mining conveyor is usually provided in the form of elongated conveyor sections linkably interconnected to one another so as to form an articulatable conveyor which can accommodate uneveness in the mine floor and be urged toward the mine face, section by section, as the planer means passes along the mine face to expose a fresh mineral surface more distant from the conveyor. Under normal operating conditions, the conveyor is urged at the side thereof adjacent the mine face into abutting engagement with the lower portion of the mine face, for. example adjacent the mine floor, and under the usual stresses exerted on the conveyor sections by the traction cable and in turn the planer means, excessive wear can occur, especially with respect to the portions of the conveyor sections adjacent the mine face. By the provision for the return section of the traction cable on the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face, the various forces acting upon the conveyor sections are distributed more evenly on both sides thereof to reduce the normally excessive we-ar which heretofore occurred at the mine face side.

Preferably, the crossing over of the return strand or section of the endless traction cable from the mine face side to the remote side of the conveyor, as the case may be, is effected underneath the conveyor by providing prop means in the vicinity of the cross-over to raise the conveyor sufiiciently to provide clearance between the underside of the conveyor and the return section of the cable, or in the alternative, the cross-over may be accomplished without hindrance at a height intermediate the under side of the central path of the conveyor and the normal horizontal path of the returnstrands or sections of the conveyor mechanism, as for example in the case of a double chain scraper conveyor of the conventional type. Most effectively, clearance between the return section of the cable and the return strands of the conveyor mechanism may be insured by providing a double bottom at this portion of the conveyor, i.e. by providing a spacer element below the underside of the central path of the conveyor to accommodate the return section of the cable between the underside of the central path and the spacer element, with the return strands or sections of the conveyor mechanism being disposed horizontally therebelow, yet spaced sufliciently from the mine floor to permit such mechanism to operate in the usual manner.

In accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention, third and fourth traction cable guide means are provided in addition to the aforesaid first and second traction cable guide means so that a second planer may be accommodated on the conveyor in addition to that which is driven by the first traction cable discussed hereinabove. The third and fourth cable guide means extend along the longitudinal side of the support means or con veyor remote from the mine face, whereby to guidingly retain respectively the forward and return cable strands or sections of a second endless traction cable which is used to conduct the second planer along the mine face independently of the first planer. Preferably, the third and fourth guide means are superimposed in stacked relation on the second cable guide means, i.e. at the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face, one of the third and fourth guide means being provided with a longitudinal slit therealong to accommodate a connecting means of the second planer with the forward cable section of the second traction cable which is guidingly retained in such cable guide means. The return cable section of the second traction cable is similarly guidingly retained in the other of said third and fourth cable guide means. The second traction cable may be suitably mounted upon spaced apart sprocket wheels in the same manner as the first traction cable may be mounted, whereby the appropriate planer will be conducted back and forth along the mine face at the desired height and without hindrance with respect to the other planer or its accompanying traction cable. It will be realized, of course, that by providing one cable guide means at the mine side of the conveyor and three cable guide means at the remote side of the conveyor, sufiicient room will be available on the mine side of the conveyor to accommodate two planers thereat operatively positioned for longitudinal slidable displacement along the conveyor at different heights.

The second planer may take the form of a portal or top planer riding along the upper edge of the parallel side walls of the conveyor, with the first planer being mounted in the usual manner for travel along the mine side of the conveyor, as for example upon the edge of a guiding track therealong. On the other hand, the second planer may take the form of an underlying blade planer which is equipped with a blade, plate, or keel portion which extends transversely from the cutting means of the planer at the mine side of the conveyor under the conveyor to thhe side of the conveyor remote from the mine face. The advantage of such a blade underlying the conveyor is that the weight of the conveyor tends to stabilize the blade, plate, or keel portion and in turn the planer cutting means at the side of the conveyor adjacent the mine face to permit unyielding cutting engagement by the planer cutting means with the mine face. Where such blade type planer is contemplated as the second planer in accordance with the present invention, the first planer will be suitably mounted on the side of the conveyor adjacent the mine face at a height above that occupied by the cutting means of theblade type planer. The guide track for the first planer, as the artisan will appreciate, is merely positioned at a point vertically higher than usual to permit unhindered passage of the underlying blade type planer below the underside of the normal or first planer. Regardless of whether the top planer or the underlying blade type planer is contemplated as the second planer, the traction cable for driving the same will always be situated at the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face with a suitable drive system operable independently of that used for the first planer.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a planer guide arrangement including an elongated support means adapted to extend longitudinally along the mine face, such support means taking the form of a mining conveyor 1, as for example, a double chain scraper conveyor of the conventional type composed of linkably interconnected elongated conveyor sections 2 for articulation to accommodate uneveness in the mine floor and changes in the horizontal position ofportions of the conveyor with respect to the remainder of the conveyor as the mining operation progresses.

Double chain scraper conveyors are well known and are exemplified in US. Patents 2,810,565 issued October 22, 1957, and 2,990,168 issued June 27, 1961. Usually the coal or other miner-a1 extracted by the planer from the mine face is loaded onto the conveyor during movement of the planer therealong and the loadedmineral is hauled from the site of mining operations by a scraper bar mechanism generally comprising endless parallel chains interconnected along their common length by scraper bars. The forward strand or section of each endless chain is disposed on the upper side of a central path, whereas the return strand or section is disposed on the under side of such path. The central conveyor path may be situated in spaced relation to the mine floor by providing longitudinally extending parallel vertical side walls which are interconnected at midheight by a horizontally extending plate forming the central path.

" At each end of the conveyor, driving means 3 are provided on the machine frame 4 for operating the parallel scraper chain in the desired direction. In the same way, driving means 5 are provided for driving the endless traction cable 6 having the forward strand or section 6a, to which the normal planer 7 is attached, and the return strand or section 6b. The cable 6 is mounted at each end of the conveyor upon a sprocket wheel 8 connected to the driving means 5 therefor. For purposes of convenience, only the conveyor driving means 3 and cable driving means 5, situated at one end of the conveyor, are illustrated and it will be obvious to the artisan that a similar constructional arrangement will be situated at the opposite end of the conveyor, as for example, in accordance with the details shown in the aforesaid US.

patents.

Directing means, such as in the form of cable guiding .plates 9 and 10, are situated for directing the return section 6b in the vicinity of the sprocket wheel 8 across the conveyor 1 from the side thereof adjacent the mine face to the side thereof remote from such mine face. Actually as will he clearly seen from FIG. 2, the return section 6b passes diagonally under the conveyor 1, and at the remote side of the conveyor is guided by the directing means 10 into the cable guide channel 11 for travel therein to a point near the opposite end of the conveyor (not shown) where similar directing means will cause the return section to pass under the conveyor once more to the appropriate sprocket wheel of the cable driving means thereat.

In this manner, the return section will stabilize the longitudinal force on the conveyor sections 2 by distributing a portion of such force on the side of the conveyor remote from the mine face. The remaining force, of course, will be exerted along the mine face side of the conveyor by reason of the positioning of the forward section 6a of the endless cable 6 along the mine side of the conveyor.

In FIG. 2, the conveyor 1 is shown having the vertical parallel side walls 12 and 13, respectively, interconnected at their midpoints by the central plate 14 forming the central conveyor path. A depending prop wall 15 is disposed against sidewall 13 remote from the mine face, to raise such side wall from the mine floor 17 a sufficient distance to permit the cross-over of the return section 6b to take place in an unhindered manner. The guide track assembly 16' is disposed at the side wall 12 of the conveyor adjacent the mine face, such that a depending portion of such assembly 16 extends into engagement wit-h the mine floor 17 to maintain this portion of the conveyor 1 in the desired raised position. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the forward section 6a of the endless traction cable 6 is accommodated within the first guide channel 23 of the guide track assembly 16 for longitudinal travel therein, such forward section being attached in such channel 23 with a connecting means of the planer 7 shown partially in phantom.

FIG. 3 illustrates the conveyor at a point therealong after the crossover of a return section 6b from the mine face side wall 12 to the remote side wall 13 of the conveyor 1. In this case, the wall 15 disposed against side wall 13 is provided with an arcuate section 18 and a bottom leg section 19, a part of which forms the guiding plate or directing means 10, whereby the cable guide channel 11 is suitably formed slightly below the lower end of the conveyor at side wall 13. The section 18 and the leg 19 extend into engagement with the mine floor 17 to maintain the conveyor in the desired raised position at this point. With respect to the guide track assembly 16 connected at the side wall 12 of the conveyor, a suitable track 21 downwardly inclined toward the mine face is provided, which is connected with an arcuate extension 22, whereby to form therebetween first .guide channel 23. The outer end of the extension 22 engages the mine floor 17, whereby to maintain the side wall 12 in the desired raised position. Vertical ribs 24 are disposed at spaced intervals along the guide track 16 to maintain structural stability and suitable reinforcement of such assembly, especially with respect to the stresses placed upon the same as the planer 7 passes along track 21. The ribs 24 are positioned in the interior of the assembly 16 against the wall 20 which is connected to the conveyor wall 12, as well as against the track 21 and the extension 22 along the common extent of such parts.

In FIG. 4 the conveyor 1 is shown positioned on the mine floor with the wall 15 merely serving as support for attaching the second channel 18 for guidingly retaining return section 6b therein- Wall 20 in this part of the conveyor is shown positioned higher on the conveyor wall 12 than in the case of FIGS. 2 and 3, inasmuch as the adjacent parts of the guide track assembly 16, and especially the extension 22 are meant to be raised sufficiently with respect to conveyor 1 to permit conveyor 1 to rest upon the mine floor. FIG. 4 represents the normal operating position of the conveyor and the first channel 23 and second channel 11 between the points of cross-over of the return section 6b in the vicinity of the sprocket wheels 8 driving the cable 6. In the vicinity of the sprocket wheels 8, the conveyor 1 is raised in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 to permit such cross-over to be accomplished without hindrance with the mine floor or the conveyor par-ts disposed thereabove. Naturally, the distance at which the conveyor 1 must be elevated will depend upon the cross-sectional dimensions of the traction cable in question. In the embodiment shown, such cablev takes the form of a chain. It will be appreciated that the portion of the conveyor arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is meant to illustrate only an end portion of the conveyor with the actual length of the conveyor and the appropriate parts 'being exteremly long in regard to the portion thereof shown in FIG. 1. Since the conveyor is provided in the form of sections 2, the various parts required for forming the guide track assembly, the prop means for raising the various conveyor sections, and thecable channels, will vary in configuration at the conveyor sections where each cross-over takes place, with the majority of the sections intermediate the ends of the arrangement having a form similar to that shown in FIG. 4.

The extension 22 of the guide track assembly 16 is designed to extend at an inclined angle toward the mine floor, whereby the outer edge of said extension will engage the mine floor generally at the point where it joins the mine wall being worked to anchor the guide track assembly, and in turn the conveyor, against transverse displacement which might otherwise occur. The conveyor is urged forward in this connection during each passage of the planer by suitable urging means such as piston cylinder means (not shown), the arrangement of which is more fully described in the aforesaid US. Patent 2,990,- 168. The function of the extension 22 of the track assembly 16 may be appreciated more fully from co-pending US. application Serial No. 252,528, filed January 18, 1963.

With respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in this case a similar end portion of the conveyor arrangement is shown, i.e. including the cross-over portion of the conveyor 31, containing the conveyor sections 32 in the vicinity of the sprocket wheel 38. The conveyor chain mechanism in this instance is driven by a pair of opposing driving means, 33, 33', attached to theframe 34, and in the same way the sprocket wheel 38 at the mine side of the conveyor is driven by the driving means 35, whereas the sprocket wheel 38' at the remote side of the conveyor is driven by the driving means 35. It will be appreciated in this embodiment that a first endless traction cable 36, having forward section 36a connected to the normal planer 37 and return section 36b, is provided as well as a second endless traction cable 49. While cable 36 is mounted for travel on sprocket wheel 38 at the end of the conveyor arrangement shown, endless cable 49 is mounted on sprocket wheel 38 for independent operation at the remote side of the conveyor. The second cable 49 is attached at its forward section to the top planer 66 with the return section being disposed thereunder for movement in appropriate guiding channels at the remote side of the conveyor. The top planer 66 is provided with cutting means 69 and guiding means 67 and 65 for travel along the top rail portion of the parallel side walls of the conveyor sections. The directing means 39 and 40, similar to the directing means 9 and 10 of FIG. 1, are provided for directing the return section 3612 of the first cable 36 across the under side of the conveyor 31 from the vicinity of the sprocket wheel 38 to the remote side of the conveyor.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 represents a cross-section of the portion of the conveyor of FIG. 5 after the crossover has been accomplished, but in this case a different form of top planer is provided for travel along the top of the conveyor than that shown in FIG. 5. The first channel 60 is disposed in the guide track assembly 59 in the same manner as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 1 such that the forward section 36a may be suitably disposed therewithin and attached via the connecting means 61 with the planer 37 mounted for travel at a lower height along the assembly 59 to extract mineral from mine face 64 adjacent the mine floor 17. The return section 36b of the cable for the first planer 37 is accommodated in the second channel 41 formed by the arcuate wall 45 attached at its midpoint via the spacer 46 'with the plate 47 secured to the remote side wall 43 of the conveyor. A slit 53 is provided at the bottom portion of the channel 41 although the return section 36b is retained in channel 41 to the extent that such return section cannot fall out through slit 53. Above channel 41 the third channel 48 is situated by reason of the configuration of the spacer 46 and the wall 45 at the upper portion of plate 47. Superimposed above channels 41 and 48 is the fourth channel 50 defined by the arcuate wall 51 attached to spacer 52 and, in turn, to the wall 45, whereby a rigid stacked disposition of the desired three guiding channels will be attained on the remote side of the conveyor for guidingly receiving not only the return section 36b of the first cable 36 but also both the forward section 49a and the return section 4% of the second cable 49. The top channel 50 is provided with a slit 54 extending medially to permit the top planer 56 to be suitably connected via a lug 55 with the forward section 49a of the second cable 49.

It will be appreciated from FIG. 6 that the conveyor 31 is provided with the side wall 42 adjacent the mine face 64 and the side wall 43 remote from the mine face, with the two vertical side 'walls being interconnected at their midpoints by the central plate 44 which forms the central conveyor path. Along the top surface of conveyor walls 42 and 43 the legs of the top planer 56 are slidably disposed, a groove 57 being provided in the outer portion of the appropriate leg of planer 56 adjacent the mine face so as to engage a flange 58 medially extending from the top portion of the guide track assembly 59.

By reason of the presence of the engagement of groove 57 with flange, 58, and the engagement of lug 55 with channel 50, the planer 56 cannot deviate transversely from this normal operating position. It will be seen that the planer 56 is provided with an undercutting tool 62 which extends into the mine face a greater distance than that possible with the first planer 37. Ripping picks 63 extend sl-antingly upward a short distance from the mine face side of planer 56 in order to extract any projecting portions of the mine face thereat.

It will be seen from the upper height of planer 56 with respect to the lower height of planer 37 that since each planer is provided with a separate cable for driving the same back and forth along the mine face, and since each planer engages the mine face at a different height, the two planers may be operated at different rates of speed, at different mine face heights, and at different longitudinal portions of the mine face independently of one another for maximum utilization of the equipment in any given period of time, and with versatility with respect to extracting mineral at varying heights along one mine wall being worked without the need for extensive changes, adjustments and replacements of mining equipment.

In FIG. 6, it will be further seen that by reason of the fact that wall 45 extends below the lower end of conveyor wall 43, while the guide track assembly 59 is more or less at the same horizontal position as conveyor wall 42, the conveyor 31 will be slanted slightly toward the mine face,

whereby to attain greater stability against the forces generated during mine face engagement by the two planers.

With respect to FIG. 7, the conveyor 31 is shown in slanting position on the mine floor 17 in the same manner as in FIG. 6, but in this case the uppermost channel 50, in which the forward section 49a of the second cable is guidingly retained, is used to accommodate the lug 65 of the top planer 66 through the slit 54. Top planer 66 is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 and engages via the cutting tools 69 the mine face over a more extensive height than that possible using the top planer 56. A similar groove 67 is provided on the leg portion of planer 66 adjacent the mine face for engagement with the flange 58. The first planer 37 in this instance is provided with ad ditional cutting means 68 reaching a greater height than that in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 6, whereby the planer 37 and the planer 66 may be used together to achieve the simultaneous efiicient extraction of mineral from the mine face 64 over a much greater height than possible otherwise, yet with each planer being driven independently of the other at any desired speed and longitudinal range of working of the mine face in question.

FIG. 8 shows a similar arrangement of the conveyor 31 and planer 37, but in this case the uppermost channel 50 is used to guide the lug 70 of the top planer 71, whereas the flange 58 guidingly engages groove 69 in the leg portion of planer 71 adjacent the mine face. This type of arrangement is used where the top planer 71 carries a rotating cutter means 72, which may be electrically or mechanically operated for engaging the mine face in a particular manner rather than one of the aforementioned types of planers, depending upon the condition of the seam to be extracted.

In the case of each of the portal or top planers, the supporting legs therefor are designed to slidingly engage the conveyor means supporting the same at sufficiently spaced apart longitudinal points to achieve operational stability of such planer. It is preferred to provide such top planers with four separate spaced apart legs, two on each longitudinal side of the conveyor, whereby maximum practical support in the arrangement shown becomes possible.

Therefore it is seen that the embodiment of FIG. 6

' permits deep loW engagement of the mine face with the top planer just above the portion of the mine face being engaged by the main or normal planer, whereas the top planer of the embodiment of FIG. 7 provides for engagement with a greater height of the mine face starting just above the range of movement of the normal or main planer albeit at a shallower cutting range than that of the normal or main planer; the rotating cutter of FIG. 8 on the other hand engaging the mine face at a spaced height from the operational range of the main or normal planer. The embodiment of FIG. 8, of course, will provide for extracting mineral in a deeper manner than is possible with the main or normal planer of the arrangement of FIG. 8, whereby separate seams in the same mine face may be simultaneously extracted by the two planers of FIG. 8 without superfluous removal of waste material situated in the vertical distance between the higher operative range of the top rotating planer of FIG. 8 and the lower operating range of the main or normal planer shown therein. Nevertheless, the top planer of FIG. 7 permits the simultaneous cut-ting of heavier seams with the normal planer, advantageously in such a manner that the cutting tools on the top planer engage the mine face to a depth which increases not only downwardly toward the mine floor but also longitudinally outwardly toward the leg portions of such top planer onthe side of the conveyor adjacent the mine face. This construction can be seen more clearly from FIG. 5.

The artisan will appreciate that while a particular embodiment of a normal planer and track assembly therefor is shown specifically herein, other types of normal planers mounted for longitudinal movement along guide means such as a conveyor are contemplated by the present invention, the main features being directed to the presence of two planers operated independently of one another regardless of the particular construction of mounting system used to conduct each planer back and forth along the mine face.

It will be appreciated, of course, that while only one end of the conveyor is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 5, the opposite ends of the conveyors of said embodiments will be of analogous construction, respectively, with the cross-over arrangement being appropriately the same at either end of the conveyor including the directing means coupled therewith. The drive means for operating the traction cable or cables and the urging means for urging the conveyor sections toward the mine face as new layers of mineral are extracted, may take the form of those constructions disclosed in the aforementioned US. Patents 2,810,565 and 2,990,168.

What is claimed is:

1. Planer guide adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding planer means longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, which comprises elongated support means adapted to extend longitudinally along a mine face, first traction cable guide means extending along one longitudinal side of said support means for guidingly retaining the forward section of an endless traction cable used to conduct the planer means along the mine face, second traction cable guide means extending along the other longitudinal side of said support means for guidingly retaining the return section of such endless traction cable, and directing means for directing at one end of the path of the cable the return cable section across said support means from said one longitudinal side thereof to said other longitudinal side thereof and in turn for directing at the other end of the path of the cable in return cable section back across said support means from said other longitudinal side of said support means to said one longitudinal side thereof as well as third and fourth traction cable guide means extending along said other longitudinal side of said support means in addition to said second traction cable guide means, for guidingly retaining respectively the forward and return cable sections of another endless traction cable used to conduct another planer means along the mine face independently of the first-mentioned planer means.

2'. Guide according to claim 1 wherein the first-mentioned cable is directed across said support means at the underside of such support means and depending prop means are provided on said support means adjacent said directing means for raising the corresponding portions of said support means from the mine floor to permit un hindered travel of the first-mentioned cable across said support means at said underside.

3. Guide according to claim 1 wherein said third and fourth cable guide means are superimposed in stacked relation on said second cable guide means, and one of said third and fourth cable guide means is provided with a longitudinal slit therealong to accommodate a connecting means of the second-mentioned planer means with the forward cable section of said another traction cable guidingly retained in such cable guide means, the return cable section of said another traction cable being guidingly retained in the other of said third and fourth cable guide means. i p

4. Guide according to claim 3 wherein the first-mentioned cable is directed across said support means at the underside of such support means, and depending prop means are provided on said support means adjacentsaid directing means for raising the corresponding portions of said support means from the mine floor to permit unhindered travel of the first-mentioned cable across said support means at said underside thereat.

5. Guide according to claim 3 wherein said support means includes an elongated mining conveyor having op posing vertical side wall means and a central horizontal conveyor path means for removing extracted mineral, endless conveying means being provided for conducting extracted mineral along said central path means including a forward conveying means section positioned along the upper side of said central path means and a return conveying means section positioned along the underside of said central path means, said first-mentioned cable being directed across said mining conveyor from one corresponding longitudinal side wall means to the other below the underside of said central path means at a height between said underside and the return conveying means section.

6. Guide according to claim 5 wherein separating means are positioned at a height between said first-mentioned cable and said return conveying means section at the portions of said mining conveyor where said first-mentioned cable is directed thereacross to permit unhindered operalll tion of said first-mentioned cable and said return conveying means section with respect to each other.

7. Planer guide arrangement adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding planer means longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, which comprises elongated support means adapted to extend longitudinally along a mine face, first planer means mounted for slidable displacement longitudinally along one longitudinal side of said support means to engage extractively the mine face, first endless traction cable means mounted on a first path for driving said first planer means back and forth along said support means, first traction cable guide means extending along said one longitudinal side of said support means for guidingly retaining the forward section of'said first cable means, second traction cable guide means extending along the other longitudinal side of said support means for guidingly retaining the return section of said first cable means, directing means for directing at one end of the path of said first cable means the return cable section across said support means from said one longitudinal side thereof to said other longitudinal side thereof and in turn for directing at the other end of the path of said first cable means the return cable section back across said support means from said other longitudinal side of said support means to said one longitudinal side thereof, second planer means mounted for slidable displacement longitudinally along said one longitudinal side of said support means at a different height from that of said first planer means to engage extractively the mine face at a different height from that of said first planer means, second endless cable means mounted on a second path for driving said second planer means back and forth along said support means independently of said first planer means, and third and fourth traction cable guide means extending along said other longitudinal side of said support means for guidingly retaining respectively the forward and return cable sections of said second cable means.

8. Arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said first cable guide means is provided with a longitudinal slit therealong to accommodate a connecting means of said first planer means with the forward cable section of said first cable means, and said third cable guide means is similarly provided with a longitudinal slit therealong to accommodate a connecting means of said second planer means with the forward cable section of said second cable means, said third and fourth cable guide means being superimposed in stacked relation on said second cable guide means.

9. Planer guide arrangement adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding a planer longitudinal back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, which comprises an elongated mining conveyor adapted to extend longitudinally along a mine face, said conveyor having opposing vertical side wall means and a central horizontal conveyor path means for removing extracted mineral, endless conveying means for conducting extracted mineral along said central path means including a forward conveying means section positioned along the upper side of said central path means and a return conveying means section positioned along the under side of said central path means, first planer means mounted for slidable displacement longitudinally along one side wall means of said conveyor to engage extractively the mine face, first connecting means disposed on said first planer means, first endless traction cable means including a forward section and a return section mounted on a first path corresponding to the longitudinal range of back and forth movement of the first planer means and attached at said forward section to said first planer means via said first connecting means for driving said first planer means along said mining conveyor, first traction cable guide means extending along said one side wall-means for guidingly retaining the forward section of said first cable means, first slit means being longitudinally defined in said first guide means to accommodate said first connecting means during displacement'thereof with said first planer means along said first path, second traction cable guide means extending along the other side wall means for guidingly retaining the return section of said first cable means, directing means for directing at one end of said first path the return cable section across said mining conveyor from said first guide means at said one side wall means to said second guide means at the other side Wall means thereof and in turn for directing at the other end of said first path the return cable section back across said mining conveyor from said second guide means at said other wall means to said first guide means at said one wall means, second planer means mounted for slidable displacement longitudinally along said one wall means at a different height from that at which said first planer means is slidably displaced along said one wall means so as to engage extractively the mine face at such different height from that engaged by said first planer means, second connecting means disposed on said second planer means, second endless ca-ble means including a forward section and a return section mounted on a second path corresponding to the longitudinal range of back and forth movement of the second planer means and attached at said forward section to said second planer means via said second connecting means for driving said second planer means along said mining conveyor independently of the driving of said first planer means, and third and fourth cable guide means extending along said other wall means of said mining conveyor for guidingly retaining respectively the forward and return cable sections of said second cable means, second slit means being longitudinally defined in said third guide means to accommodate said second connecting means during displacement thereof with said second planer means along said second path, said second, third and fourth guide means being positioned one above the other at said other side wall means.

10. Arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said second planer means is mounted on top of said conveyor at an operating height above that of said first planer means for longitudinal slidable displacement along said side wall means independently of the operation of said first planer means, with said second slit means being positioned at a corresponding height to accommodate said second connecting means thereat for driving said second planer means via said second cable means.

11. Arrangement according to claim 10 wherein depending elevation means are provided along said other side wall means to raise slightly said conveyor at said other side wall means and in turn incline said conveyor downwardly toward the mine face at said one side wall means for greater stability and counterbalance of the arrangement with respect to the forces encountered at the mine face.

12. Arrangement according to claim 10 wherein said one side wall means is provided with longitudinal groove means therealong and said second planer means is provided with corresponding lug means slidably retained in said groove means for longitudinal slidable displacement in said groove means, said second connecting means having a block portion slidably retained in said third guide means via said second slit means for longitudinal slidable displacement in said third guide means, said groove means and third guide means during movement of said second planer means preventing transverse displacement of said lug means and block portion respectively and in turn tipping of said second planer means from its normal opera- ;ional position in extractive engagement with the mine ace.

13. Arrangement according to claim 12 wherein said conveyor is composed of linkably interconnected elongated conveyor sections, said first cable means being directed across said conveyor at the under side thereof, and depending prop means being provided on said one side wall means and on said other side wall means at the corresponding conveyor sections adjacent the ends of said first path at which said directing means are positioned, for raising such corresponding sections of said conveyor from the mine floor to permit unhindered travel of said first cable means across said conveyor at said under side thereat.

14. Arrangement according to claim 12 wherein endless longitudinal conveying means are provided on said conveyor for conducting extracted mineral along said central path means including a forward conveying means section positioned along the upper side of said central path means and a return conveying means section positioned along the under side of said central path means and spaced from the mine floor, said first cable means being directed across said conveyor at each end of said first path from the correspondingly adjacent side wall means to the opposite side wall means below the under side of said central path means at a height between said under side and the return conveying means section to permit operative clearance between said first cable means and said return conveying means.

15. Arrangement according to claim 14 wherein separating means are positioned at a height between said first cable means and said return conveying means section at each end of said first path to insure unhindered operation of said first cable means and said return conveying means section with respect to each other.

16. Arrangement accordingto claim 9 wherein said second planer means is mounted at said one side Wall means of the conveyor at an operating height below that of said first planer means and has a transverse plate means secured thereto underlying said conveyor and extending across said conveyor substantially to said other end wall means, for longitudinal slidable displacement of said second planer means along said one side wall means independently of the operation of said first planer means and in turn for corresponding longitudinal slidable displacement of said plate means under said conveyor, with said second connecting means being mounted at the end portion of said plate means adjacent said other side wall means, said second slit means being positioned at a corresponding height to accommodate said second connecting means thereat for driving said second planer means via said second cable means.

17. Arrangement according to claim 16 wherein depending elevation means are provided along said other side wall means to raise slightly said conveyor at said other side wall means and in turn incline said conveyor downwardly toward the mine face at said one side Wall means for greater stability and counterbalance of the arrangement with respect to the forces encountered at the mine face, said elevation means being continuous along said other side wall means and having a smooth bottom edge therealong to permit said plate means to pass along thereunder without hinderance therewith.

18. Arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said conveyor is composed of linkably interconnected elongated conveyor sections, said first cable means being directed across said conveyor at the under side thereof, and depending prop means being provided on said one side wall means and on said other side wall means at the corresponding conveyor sections adjacent the ends of said first path at which said directing means are positioned, for raising such corresponding sections of said conveyor from the mine floor to permit unhindered travel of said first cable means across said conveyor at said under side thereat, said prop means having a smooth bottom edge therealong to permit said plate means to pass along thereunder without hinderance therewith.

19. Arrangement according to claim 16 wherein endless longitudinal conveying means are provided on said conveyor for conducting extracted mineral along said central path means including a forward conveying means section positioned along the upper side of said central path means and a return conveying means section positioned along the under side of said central path means and spaced from the mine floor, said first cable means being directed across said conveyor at each end of said first path from the correspondingly adjacent side wall means to the opposite side wall means below the under side of said central path means at a height between said under side and the return conveying means section to permit operative clearance between said first cable means and said return con veying means.

20. Arrangement according to claim 19 wherein separating means are positioned at a height between said first cable means and said return conveying means section at each end of said first path to insure unhindered operation of said first cable means and said return conveying means section with respect to each other.

21. In a planer arrangement including an elongated mining conveyor adapted to extend longitudinally along a mine face for the removal of extracted mineral from the mine face and planer means longitudinally guidable back and forth along the conveyor by traction cable means for extractive engagement with the mine face to extract mineral therefrom, the improvement which comprises providing two planers longitudinally guidable along such mining conveyor independently of each other and operatively situated for back and forth movement and for extractive engagement with the mine face at the same side of the conveyor yet at a different height from one another, a first channel extending along the longitudinal side of said conveyor adjacent the mine face and a second, a third, and a fourth channel extending along the longitudinal side of said conveyor remote from the mine face, the traction cable means including a first endless cable having a first forward section and a first return section and a second endless cable having a second forward section and a second return section, said first and second cables being independently operable at different speeds and directions of travel, said first forward section being retained for travel in said first channel, said first return section being retained for travel in said second channel, said second forward section being retained for travel in said third channel and said second return section being retained for travel in said fourth channel, directing means at each end of the path of travel of the first cable for directing at one end of the path of the first cable the first return section across said conveyor at the under side thereof from the mine face adjacent side of the conveyor to the mine face remote side of the conveyor and in turn for directing at the other end of the path of the first cable the first return section back across the conveyor at the under side thereof from said remote side to said adjacent side, and depending prop means on said conveyor adjacent said directing means for raising the corresponding portions of the conveyor from the mine floor to permit unhindered travel of said first cable across said conveyor at the under side thereof, a first of said planers being connected for travel along the conveyor with said first forward section and the second of said planers being connected for travel along the conveyor with said second forward section, the travel of said two forward sections and in turn said two planers being along different height-s, whereby to permit operative engagement with different heights of the mine face by said planers independently of each other and without hinderance of their respective cables.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,848,204 8/ 1958 Brandi et a1 29934 2,935,310 4/ 1960 Davies 29934 FOREIGN PATENTS 606,525 8/ 1948 Great Britain. 677,957 8/ 1952 Great Britain.

ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 3,285,662 November 15, 1966 Armin L'dbbe In the heading to the printed specification, line 5, for

"Gewerlgschaft Eisenhutte Westphalia" read Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia column 1, line 17, for "an" read on column 4, line 71, for "thhe" read the Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1967.,

( AL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. PLANER GUIDE ADAPTED TO REST ON A MINE FLOOR FOR GUIDING PLANER MEANS LONGITUDINALLY BACK AND FORTH ALONG A MINE FACE FOR THE EXTRACTION OF MINERAL FROM THE MINE FACE, WHICH COMPRISES ELONGATED SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO EXTEND LONGITUDINALLY ALONG A MINE FACE, A FIRST TRACTION CABLE GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING ALONG ONE LONGITUDINAL SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR GUIDINGLY RETAINING THE FORWARD SECTION OF AN ENDLESS TRACTION CABLE USED TO CONDUCT THE PLANER MEANS ALONG THE MINE FACE, SECOND TRACTION CABLE GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING ALONG THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR GUIDINGLY RETAINING THE RETUREN SECTION OF SUCH ENDLESS TRACTION CABLE, AND DIRECTING MEANS FOR DIRECTING AT ONE END OF THE PATH OF THE CABLE THE RETURN CABLE SECTION ACROSS SAID SUPPORT MEANS FROM SAID ONE LONGITUDINAL SIDE THEREOF TO SAID OTHER LONGITUDINAL SIDE THEREOF AND IN TURN FOR DIRECTING AT THE OTHER END OF THE PATH OF THE CABLE IN RETURN CABLE SECTION BACK ACROSS SAID SUPPORT MEANS FROM SAID OTHER LONGITUDINAL SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO SAID ONE LONGITUDINAL SIDE THEREOF AS WELL AS THIRD AND FOURTH TRACTION CABLE GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING ALONG SAID OTHER LONGITUDINAL SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS, FOR IN ADDITION TO SAID SECOND TRACTION CABLE GUIDE MEANS, FOR GUIDINGLY RETAINING RESPECTIVELY THE FORWARD AND RETUREN CABLE SECTIONS OF ANOTHER ENDLESS TRACTION CABLE USED TO CONDUCT ANOTHER PLANER MEANS ALONG THE MINE FACE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FIRST-MENTIONED PLANER MEANS. 